A group of Liverpool school friends who first met in 1958 have proven that some friendships truly last a lifetime, reuniting to celebrate their 80th birthdays at a city-centre restaurant. The 18 former pupils of Notre Dame Collegiate School in Everton Valley gathered at Panoramic 34 on Thursday, July 9, marking a bond that has endured for 67 years.
Reunion Brings Together Friends from Across the Globe
The reunion included members who travelled from across the UK and overseas, including friends from Arizona and Canada. Among them was a former classmate who had not seen some of the group for more than 50 years. Anne McCann, 79, from Childwall, who has been part of the friendship group for decades, said the reunions had become a treasured part of their lives.
According to Anne, the group originally reconnected through the former social networking site Friends Reunited and have since continued to meet regularly, often for lunch or afternoon tea. She told the ECHO: "We've done these for 30 years. Some people kept in touch over the years after they left school but, when Friends Reunited started, more of us managed to get together."
Special Celebration for Milestone Birthdays
The latest get-together was made extra special after they realised many of them would soon be celebrating their 80th birthdays. Anne said: "Usually we just go for lunch or have afternoon tea. But, when we met just after Christmas, one of the group mentioned how we'll all be turning 80 next year. So we thought, well, we'll have to make this a special one."
The Panoramic 34 restaurant was chosen for its views across Liverpool, particularly for friends who no longer live in the city. The group also recalled their elocution lessons and remembered the strict teachers who made an impression on them. They hold onto a special piece of their old school and have supported one another through life's ups and downs, including recent bereavements.
ECHO photographer Iain Watts attended the reunion to capture photographs of the women reuniting and catching up on old memories. Although everyone had different experiences of school, Anne said the friendships that came from those years were what mattered most.
